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1/24/2019
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Clark Fork, ID
US
I have a possible torn ACL or meniscus. Waiting on an mri to confirm what exactly is going on. Racing season is less than a month away for me.
Who has had a knee injury, how severe was it, and how long before you were back riding?
Seriously getting depressed right now
Who has had a knee injury, how severe was it, and how long before you were back riding?
Seriously getting depressed right now
I blew out my left ACL, partial tear to my MCL and torn meniscus. I was out for 7 months but I got it done over the winter. After I healed up a bit initially I continued to ride up until surgery. Before ACL I rode with no knee braces, never have ridden again without. Even if braces are only mental.
The Shop
You might be able to put the surgery off for a while if you didn’t tear all that badly.
I wasn’t able to get surgery right away to repair the knee but rather a scope to check it all out and take out the damaged Acl. Right way is to fix it all at once
Dislocated the knee cap so the main patellar tendons had partially torn as well as the ligaments/muscles that keep the kneecap in location and had a 100% tear of the MCL. Knee was bent at such an angle that my foot was about 6" over from where it normally sits, very weird when you go to use your other foot to touch the out of place foot as it isn't where you think it is.
No surgery, it took about 6-7 months for the MCL to grow back, and for the knee to feel "stable" but I can tell it's not as 100% as it used to be, feels like my lower leg could still kick out to the side, but it's likely mostly mental at this point (I'm about 8 months post injury).
I still can't do a single leg squat as I don't have the strength at the front of the knee, but we are about to really increase the strength training for it now that it's fully stable. The pain I'm dealing with is basically similar to the pain you get from lifting weights that are too heavy. Starting an easy running and spinning program, I'll be bike ready a year after the injury... And I will always wear braces from now on.
I used to think the braces would cause a broken bone in a crash like that. But the second I was on the side of the trail and realized it was my joint and not a fracture, I knew I was in for a long recovery instead of 6 weeks in a cast... I would rather break bones than rip a joint apart... Fractures don't hurt quite as much.
Side note: Hare scrambles are just as deadly, trees don't move and it can take a couple hours for them to get you out of the trail bouncing around in a side by side before you can get to an ambulance. We race tight fairly technical single track, not GNCC style trails. Can't really get a race quad in there even.
My dad just had a knee replacement last Monday and he's already been walking on it. Had him walking a few hours after surgery. Sometimes he needs crutches when he gets tired, but otherwise he's mostly walking and getting himself up the stairs.
- At 6 months even with continuous PT, the knee muscles are not near full strength for at least 9-12 months.
- While I will get on the bike casually in a few weeks, it's somewhat risky and much more likely to be re-injured.
- Don't wait for surgery. I waited 3 months and it just prolonged my time off the bike and I highly regret it.
- ACL Surgery is easy, the slow recovery time is the bitch
- Pain will mostly likely come from the torn meniscus repair, depending on how severe the tear is.
- "Walking" quite normally within 4-8 weeks can be expected from ACL, the meniscus could make this longer.
- Do not even consider getting on a bike for at "least" 6 months, unless you are young, super fit, and rehab with a trainer.
- The studies and facts show the knee won't be 100% until 18-24 months.
Sorry for the shit news, but set your expectations properly. I have good knees and this was my 1st surgery. During the whole rehab process I kept thinking I could beat the odds since normal non-active related activity came back within 8-10 weeks, it didn't happen and its become clear it will be quite some time until it's 100%
Blew mine all to shit back in 1992, doc said 6 months so I didn’t argue. Surgery, therapy and other projects for six months. Sixth month was a race weekend so I loaded up the 74 CR125 and 250 and headed out for a two day event. Took it easy in practice and felt okay. Lined up for the first moto on the 125 against21 other 125’s- 500’s. Told myself to just let everyone go and see how it went. Figured I would end up where I ended up, but then the gate dropped! Holeshot and a moto win...
Pit Row
It takes FOREVER to get back to normal. My physio and Ortho both say I'm meeting or exceeding their expectations but it feels so slow.
I'm sure that first ride back will just feel like a bad idea at first.
I will say even with all the stuff wrong with my knee I made a 100 percent recovery and that knee is probably doing better 14 years later then the other. It took me about a year to get to riding. Released at six month but still had considerable pain. At 1 year I was good as new.
That said, in September, I hurt the same knee wake boarding. I think what I did would have hurt a knee even if it wasn't previously injured. I have not got an MRI on this one yet, but at minimum I have a torn lateral meniscus. Fixing it kind of doesn't work out in my plans right now, so I am planning on getting an MRI this fall, and scheduling my inevitable surgery for mid December, so I can get most of my fall riding/ hunting season in but heal up for spring 2020.
Most people get injured, sit fairly idle awaiting surgery (sometimes by choice, sometimes due to sport withdrawal/depression), and then have to dig themselves out of a deeper whole post operative. Consider starting the hard work of recovery now, you won't regret it.
Be patient, the depression passes and when you get back to riding, you will feel awesome.
1) Complete tear ACL
2) Small full-thickness tear MCL
3) Low-grade partial tear or sprain LCL
4) Associated tear of the posterior attachment medial retinaculum with fissure of the patellar cartilage, probably traumatic.
5) Partial tear posterolateral corner structures.
6) Mild thinning of the medial compartment cartilage.
7) Moderate strain injury of the popliteus and soleus muscles.
8) Peripheral tear medial meniscus with meniscocapsular injury.
9) Meniscocapsular injury lateral meniscus.
10) Large effusion with fluid extravasation.
Some dead guy was nice enough to donate his ACL and MCL; Dr did some work on the patella and medial meniscus while he was in there.
PT was a bugger, and if I ever blow the other knee out I won't wait months before moving the knee. I think that's why my range of motion still doesn't match my right knee. After 2 1/2 years it still hurts all the time, and aches while in certain positions while laying down. Arthritis has certainly set in, and the amount of sugar I eat has a surprisingly significant impact on the discomfort level my knee offers me on a daily basis (a couple doughnuts and it'll ache for a day or two). I've been able to return to judo, jujitsu, and motocross; fortunately the regular exercise helps keep the discomfort level down. 48 years old, btw.
All these injuries are different but count on 4-6 months with an ACL (6 and 9 for me when i did it) and about 2 for meniscus. The better you work on rehab the sooner you'll be back on the bike.
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